TV for PC use

[Sprucemoose]

I am building another cab and was thinking about using a TV instead of a PC monitor.  I am trying to keep cost down so an arcade montor is not an option right now.  How does a TV stack up to a PC monitor for other PC games.  Is it worth considering?  

[shmokes]

Well, there are pros and cons.  A TV makes text practically unreadable for PC applications so word processing and internet or pretty much out unless you like headaches.  

On the other hand a TV looks great as an Arcade monitor and costs half as much as one.  As far as PC games go it has a nice advantage, too.  A TV's maximum resolution is 640x480 so you'll get a little more mileage out of a slower computer running at such a low resolution on windows games.  On the other hand it's not going to be long before game makers quit supporting 640x480 as virtually everybody and their dog can support higher resolution with decent framerates.

For now, though, unless you want to use it for productivity (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) TV is a fantastic option for a tight budget.

[JLR2000]

I agree with Shmokes.  I used a TV for my upright cab and have been very pleased with the results. Windows is a little rough on the eyes, but it is a dedicated cab, so I only use windows for updates or changing configs.

Check out the Video forum, there have been many debates regarding TVs and monitors, and I know many have published screenshots comparing the two.....Oscar is just one of those:

http://www.oscarcontrols.com/monitors.shtml

Personally, I would do it again.  I bought a $250 TV with S-Video and an older ATI video card with S-VID out (I think $28 at the time) and have been very pleased with the results....

Something to keep in mind with TV-

*I think* S-video is the way to go...
If you go s-video, make sure your tv stays on the s-vid input channel, some tvs default to channel 2 or 3 when you turn them off.  I think those Apex 20" tvs that sell for around 100 bucks do not stay on the input channel.  If you don't mind changing the channel every time you power up, never mind.....

Good luck.

[PacManFan]

Well, there are pros and cons.  A TV makes text practically unreadable for PC applications so word processing and internet or pretty much out unless you like headaches.  

On the other hand a TV looks great as an Arcade monitor and costs half as much as one.  As far as PC games go it has a nice advantage, too.  A TV's maximum resolution is 640x480 so you'll get a little more mileage out of a slower computer running at such a low resolution on windows games.  On the other hand it's not going to be long before game makers quit supporting 640x480 as virtually everybody and their dog can support higher resolution with decent framerates.

For now, though, unless you want to use it for productivity (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) TV is a fantastic option for a tight budget.

What do you mean the max is 640x480?
On my cab, I can display up to 1024x768.
-PacManFan

[shmokes]

What do you mean the max is 640x480?
On my cab, I can display up to 1024x768.
-PacManFan

Not if you're using a TV for your monitor you can't.  A TV will not display a resolution above 640x480 (unless it's a High Definition TV, which I assume Sprucemoose is not talking about.  Even if you're using a High Definition TV you have to have just the right video-card or just the right TV -- with VGA input -- to display the high res. signal).

If you are using a regular computer monitor this limitation does not apply to you as you can display as high a resolution as you want providing it is supported by both your videocard and monitor.

[Zero_Hour]

I don't have a cab built yet, but I have MAME running on my 27" Zenith in the livingroom, The PC it's running on is a Shuttle ITX (Very Nice SMALL formfactor with sound and video integrated into the MOBO, as well as Composite & S/Video out) I'm displaying 800x600 on my TV, with no special equiptment, so I think the 640x480 limitation may have to do with the video card & not the television. By the way, It's an older S3 video chipset on my system, nothing new or fancy at all. MAME loks great, running Windows - not something you really want to do on a TV at all.

[Sprucemoose]

-Schmokes, I wish I had an HDTV, but sadly this is not the case.  

I looked into some larger PC monitors, but I would be spending around $200 for a 19" viewable picture.  I think I will try the 25" or 27" S-video television with an ATI card and maybe upgrade to an arcade monitor at a later date.   As long as MAME looks good and new PC games don't look like PONG on a TV then I'll live.  

[WonderMellon]

I have been having this debate as well.  I have hooked my PC up to my current TV and the games look great.  Hyperbowl with a trackball is ALMOST as good as at Jillians!  The raster games (Star Wars, Tempest, etc) look really bad though.  Pretty much unplayable to me.  
  I have been looking around and the best deal I can find is the Apex 27" from Circuit City.  They have it for $189!  The only problem is that it is a mono tv.  Not a problem as I plan to use a seperate speaker system anyway.  I didn't know about staying on s-video, but I think I can deal with that.

Hopefully this link will get you the listing for the TV at CC.

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1943126035.1051044500@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdiadcieddmddjcfngcfkmdffhdffg.0&catoid=-8043&qp=036270854&bookmark=bookmark_16&oid=49896

[HeadRusch]

I've been looking into this as well...my cab only has space for a 19" Monitor.....I could fit a 25" TV in there if it was just the glass, but with the plastic case on the TV, all the 25" TV's I've seen are just inches too large or have speakers on the sides.

I dont want to tear off the plastic housing on the TV for fear of electrocuting myself on some stray capacitor or something, so I'm going to have to decide between a refurbished 19" or 21" Computer monitor...or find a 20" TV with Svideo input that doesn't have side speakers (Phillips makes one, Apex I don't believe does).

I want the TV mostly because it gives the arcade games an authentic low-res look......I bought a SVIDEO to Composite RCA adaptor online for about $15 bucks, plugged MAME into my 27" TV without SVideo input..and while windows is a washout PC games looked just fine.  In fact I was having a ball playing Unreal Tournament 2003 on my 27" TV at 640x480......

But since I am limited to a 20" TV.....I might just opt for a 19" Monitor for the exact same money.....we shall see...I really wish I could find a 25" TV that was just an inch less wide.

My cab has 23 and a fraction inches across the inside......every 25" TV I've seen is 24 1/2 inches wide....
*sigh*

[Jakobud]

Keep looking and don't loose hope.  There has to be a TV somewhere. Might want to post these questions in the Monitor/TV forum.  Search it too.

You are approaching the situation correctly as you will be more satisfied with a TV than a PC Monitor b/c of the authentic looking graphics.

[IG-88]

I want the TV mostly because it gives the arcade games an authentic low-res look......I bought a SVIDEO to Composite RCA adaptor online for about $15 bucks, plugged MAME into my 27" TV without SVideo input..and while windows is a washout PC games looked just fine.  In fact I was having a ball playing Unreal Tournament 2003 on my 27" TV at 640x480......

Hey whats that adapter look like? I always get composite & component mixed up. I had no idea there was such a thing. This woulda/coulda save(d) me a lot of trouble.
Wonder how certain front-ends look on it? Maybe there is one that looks pretty good?!

[shmokes]

It looks like a keyboard plug on one side an RCA connector (usually yellow) on the other.  Component uses three RCA connectors just for video (unlike composite which uses one for video [yellow] and two for sound [red and white])

[Sprucemoose]

-wondermelon, be careful with the APEX tvs.  I have not heard anything positive about them.  When using S-Vid you have to manually change the channel everytime power is lost to the TV.  Also, I believe the horizontal resoultion in low.   Just make sure you check into it before purchasing.

-Headrush- Thanks for the input on other PC games with a TV.  Its good to know that it will be a decent picture.  I have seen a few 24" TV's around that might work.  I'll try and find the links again.

Has anyone found an S-Vid 25" TV with 550 Horizontal lines of resolution and less than 26" wide?  All I can find are 27" TV's in my area.  

[Justin]

hey guys.  I've done a LOT of research in this topic, and the NARROWEST large television on the market (24-27" range) is this APEX GT2415 24" flat tube TV, at exactly 23.1" wide including the case:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006FXGI/qid=1051140035/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-9328016-4621414?v=glance&s=electronics

Quite pricey, and probably not really worth the $$$ because I hear wuality on these APEX sucks.  I was considerign going with this one, as it is the only large TV within 23.75" width.  Still debating.